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Mushtaq unlikely to be bowling coach

Mustaq Ahmed has made it clear that he will only work on a three-year contract.

Lahore: Former Pakistan Test legspinner, Mushtaq Ahmed is unlikely to be appointed as the new bowling coach of the national team as he has made it clear that he will only work on a three-year contract.

According to sources close to Mushtaq, who has been working with the England team as spin bowling consultant for the last three years had expressed interest in working with the Pakistan team but at the same time wanted certain conditions to be fulfilled.

"During a meeting with the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf he made it clear that he would only work if given a three-year contract with a particular clause that the board can't sack him. However, the Board is not willing to accept his terms and conditions. Since then the board has not contacted him, which is an indication that it is not willing to accept his rigid conditions,” said a source.

The source also said that Mushtaq is likely to sign another fresh contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as he was being offered a good financial package and incentives and he has adjusted well within the England dressing room and with head coach, Andy Flower.

"The other strong contender now for the Pakistan bowling coach's position is former Test fast bowler, Mohammad Akram, but all indications are that the national team's head coach, Dav Whatmore is more interested in bringing in a person of his own choice on the support team," said the source.

The PCB did not announce the bowling coach for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka, confirming that the matter had been delayed for obvious reasons. But Intikhab Alam, who heads the coaches committee in the board, said that the board was taking its time as it wanted to make the right decision and the new bowling coach would now be picked after the tour to Sri Lanka.

"We don't want to make any hasty decision and rush into the appointment of the new bowling coach. This is an important position and we want to make the right choice keeping in mind the new policies in the team," he said.

The former Test captain pointed out that the national team has two professional and qualified coaches on the support staff and wanted the bowling coach to be of the similar stature. Former Test pacer Jalaluddin, Sabih Azhar and former Bangladesh bowling coach Ian Pont are some of the other names that are under consideration.